Cyberinstruments are virtual sounding structures created via physical modeling synthesis techniques.

Physical modeling synthesis enables a digital simulation of a sonic object (whether it be a musical instrument, an environmental phenomenon, or everyday object) based on understanding and implementation of the object’s physics. Besides imitation and extension of the existing sound sources, the synthesis also facilitates a creation of sound sources, which have no counterpart in the physical reality.

What differentiates this technique from other syntheses is the fact that physical modeling simulates the sound production mechanism, while other techniques (e.g. additive, subtractive and FM syntheses) focus on modeling the sonic properties of the signal as heard and recognized by the listener.

We recognize three categories of cyberinstruments: extended, hybrid and abstract cyberinstruments. The extended cyberinstruments are simulations of existing physical instruments. Besides pure replication, they enable augmentation of the instruments’ parameters beyond the limitations of their physical origins. Hybrid cyberinstruments are typically combinations of the properties of two or more existing instruments, such as the blotar, which combines the properties of flute and guitar. Abstract cyberinstruments are structures inspired by physical laws, yet without equivalence in the physical world.